Tuesdays with Morrie: An Old Man, a Young Man, and Life's Greatest Lesson (Paperback)

~ (Author) "The last class of my old professor's life took place once a week in his house, by a window in the study where he could..." (more)
Key Phrases: hibiscus plant, old professor, The Audiovisual, Ted Koppel, West Newton (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

This true story about the love between a spiritual mentor and his pupil has soared to the bestseller list for many reasons. For starters: it reminds us of the affection and gratitude that many of us still feel for the significant mentors of our past. It also plays out a fantasy many of us have entertained: what would it be like to look those people up again, tell them how much they meant to us, maybe even resume the mentorship? Plus, we meet Morrie Schwartz--a one of a kind professor, whom the author describes as looking like a cross between a biblical prophet and Christmas elf. And finally we are privy to intimate moments of Morrie's final days as he lies dying from a terminal illness. Even on his deathbed, this twinkling-eyed mensch manages to teach us all about living robustly and fully. Kudos to author and acclaimed sports columnist Mitch Albom for telling this universally touching story with such grace and humility. --Gail Hudson --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From Library Journal

A Detroit Free Press journalist and best-selling author recounts his weekly visits with a dying teacher who years before had set him straight.
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: Broadway; later printing edition (October 8, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 076790592X
• ISBN-13: 978-0767905923
• Product Dimensions: 7.1 x 5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2,172 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #443 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

  Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

217 of 224 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Certainly makes one think., April 18, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Tuesdays with Morrie: An Old Man, a Young Man, and Life's Greatest Lesson (Hardcover)

This book is a best seller and continues to stay on the best seller list because in my opinion most people down deep understand the truth of Morrie's basic philosophy that people living exclusively in a materialistic world generally do so to replace what they feel is missing from their lives even though they may not be consciously aware, at the moment, of what precisely is "missing." What is missing ? I found part of this answer in a general sense in this book. I found even more precise and concrete answers in the book An Encounter With A Prophet. I highly recommend both of these books to anyone seeking to find out why they seem to continue to feel something is missing from life.

286 of 308 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great book to remind you of what really matters in life, February 7, 2000

By	Levi Wallach (Vienna, VA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Tuesdays with Morrie: An Old Man, a Young Man, and Life's Greatest Lesson (Hardcover)

I read this book after hearing so many good things about it and the TV movie based on it. It's a very quick read - I finished it in two days, which is unheard of for me! The book is basically about Morrie Schwartz, a history professor at Brandeis University, who has been diagnosed with ALS (Lou Gehrig's Disease) and is dying. A former student, Mitch Albom, who had become a fairly well known sports writer, heard about his teacher from an interview with Ted Koppel on Nightline and decided to pay a visit. This visit soon turned into regular meetings - on Tuesdays - since at the time there was a strike at Albom's newspaper. Albom plots Morrie's declining health, which is quite depressing, but at the same time imparts Morrie's wisdom. One definitely can get a sense of what the important things in life are from someone who has little left, but Morrie is particularly eloquent and seems to carry an upbeat dignity to the end. Sometimes it takes the wisdom of a dying man to jog us enough to realize that human relationships and health are more important than all the gadgets, modern conveniences, pressures to get ahead professionally and monetarily combined. This is just the main point that Morrie starts "teaching" Albom and getting through to someone who, like many of us from time to time, have gotten obsessed with the real trivialities of life. The only complaint I have about this book is that it wasn't longer. I wanted to take more time and savor the wisdom and sweetness of this old man, but, like his illness's swiftness, reading the book seemed to go by all too quickly.

138 of 146 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This Is The Most Powerful Book I've Ever Read, December 9, 1999

By	J. Hoopes (Costa Mesa, CA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

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This review is from: Tuesdays with Morrie: An Old Man, a Young Man, and Life's Greatest Lesson (Hardcover)

This book has had more impact on my life than anything else I've ever read, by far. It's a reminder to appreciate the simple, little things in life. It's a reminder that when you're dead, the things you've accumulated and the things you've done will disappear. What will remain is the ways that you've affected or touched other people.

This is a simple book with simple messages.

Live fully and in the moment. Treat others with respect, kindness, love, and dignity. Seek joy.

However, these messages are easily lost given the constantly increasing pressures we all face. This book is a guide to a way that you can live your life where you'll be able to look back at the end and feel peace and contentment.

I've given copies of this book to many people that I know. I encourage you to read this book and do so with an open mind and heart.